World Series Game 7: Dodgers vs Blue Jays — start time, pitching matchup, how to watch, and what to know

Baseball’s ultimate coin flip arrives tonight as the Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays meet in a decisive Game 7 of the 2025 World Series at Rogers Centre. After Los Angeles clawed out a 3–1 win in Game 6 to stay alive, everything now rides on one night in Toronto—legacies, a trophy, and a winter’s worth of bragging rights.

What time is Game 7 of the World Series?

• Date: Saturday, November 1, 2025

• First pitch: 8:00 p.m. ET | 5:00 p.m. PT | 12:00 a.m. GMT (Sun)

• Location: Rogers Centre, Toronto

• How to watch/listen: National TV and authenticated streaming in the U.S. and Canada; team radio networks carry full game coverage. (Check local listings; blackout rules and availability may vary.)

Confirmed Game 7 pitching matchup

• Dodgers: Shohei Ohtani, RHP — the two-way superstar takes the ball with the option to remain in the lineup as the designated hitter after he leaves the mound. Expect a tightly managed pitch count with a deep bullpen behind him.

• Blue Jays: Max Scherzer, RHP — the veteran ace gets the start in the franchise’s first-ever World Series Game 7. His experience in winner-take-all spots shapes Toronto’s plan to script early innings and bridge to late leverage arms.

Bullpen chessboard: With yesterday’s starter unavailable, Los Angeles can mix and match multiple one-time-through looks; Toronto’s plan leans on power relievers if Scherzer’s pitch count climbs early. Both clubs will be aggressive with matchups—no one saves bullets for tomorrow.

How we got here: Game 6 at a glance

• Final: Dodgers 3, Blue Jays 1 (Oct. 31, Toronto)

• Dodgers’ pivot points: A crisp Yoshinobu Yamamoto start, airtight infield defense, and a nervy ninth-inning escape preserved a two-run edge.

• Blue Jays’ response: Late pressure brought the tying run to the plate, but hard contact found gloves as Los Angeles shut the door.

The takeaway: Los Angeles stabilized the series by winning the contact/command battle; Toronto still created traffic and will like its chances if it flips a couple of those high-leverage at-bats in Game 7.

Key storylines for Dodgers vs Blue Jays, Game 7

1. First-inning tone
   Scherzer typically attacks with elevated four-seamers and early breakers; Ohtani’s opening mix dictates whether Toronto must shorten swings. A clean first for either side could cascade into two or three calm frames.

2. Middle-inning bridge
   The winner will likely be the team that navigates the fourth through seventh without giving away extra outs. Look for pinch-hit triggers as soon as a starter turns the lineup for the third time.

3. Stars in situational moments
   Mookie Betts sets table and tempo for L.A.; his chase discipline matters against spin. Toronto leans on its middle-order right-handed thump and gap power to punish mistakes on the inner half.

4. Defense and baserunning
   Game 6 reminded everyone that a single defensive gem or basepath error can decide a championship. Expect conservative aggression: force throws, avoid outs at third, value 27 completed outs over style points.

Probable batting orders (subject to change)

Dodgers (RHP on mound)

1. Betts, RF

2. Freeman, 1B

3. Ohtani, P/DH

4. Smith, C

5. Hernández, LF

6. Pages, CF

7. Muncy, 3B

8. Rojas, SS

9. Lux, 2B

Blue Jays (RHP on mound)

1. Springer, RF

2. Bichette, SS

3. Guerrero Jr., 1B

4. Turner, DH

5. Kirk, C

6. Schneider, 2B

7. Varsho, LF

8. Barger, 3B

9. Kiner-Falefa, CF

Managers often tweak based on health and last-minute data; watch for left/right platoon swaps and defensive replacements by the seventh.

What each team must do to win

Dodgers

• Win first-pitch strikes and keep the ball off the barrel early; steal six to nine outs with weak contact.

• Push traffic for the heart: Betts/Freeman/Ohtani need two combined run-producing swings or a multi-walk inning that flips leverage.

• Maintain elite infield reliability—no extra bases on throws.

Blue Jays

• Make Ohtani stress pitch by the third inning—fouls and deep counts that elevate workload.

• Hunt mistakes in plus counts; avoid expanding the zone against secondary stuff.

• Own the eighth and ninth: shorten the game with top relievers and airtight outfield routes.

Quick reference: World Series status

• Series: Tied 3–3

• Tonight: Game 7 — winner takes the championship

• Game 6 result: Dodgers 3–1 in Toronto

Rules refresher: What is a “dead ball” in baseball?

A dead ball is a ball out of play where runners cannot advance (unless specific rules award bases) and no pitch can be put in play. Common dead-ball situations include:

• A pitch that hits the batter;

• A foul ball not caught;

• Time granted by the umpire;

• Interference or obstruction ruled and play halted;

• A ball lodged in equipment or deflected out of play (often results in base awards).

In Game 7, awareness here matters—dead-ball awards on overthrows or deflections can quietly swing an inning.